Comparison of periodontal examination in pocket depth probing between right and left handed student of dentistry

The precision of periodontal pocket measurements is related to different factors. Some of these are related to examiner. The purpose of this study was to compare the examiner handedness (right or left) in the measurements of periodontal pocket depth (PPD).

8 systemically healthy adult patients (mean 35 year) who have 0/5-6mm periodontal pocket and a minimum of 20 teeth were examined by 4 right handed and 4 left handed student of dentistry(mean 25 year). These students were trained for periodontal examination probe depth measurements with Williams probe. Measurements were inserted in SPSS software and analyzed with intraclass correlation andT-test.

There was statistical difference in measurement of PPD between right and left handed examiners in whole mouth (P<0/05) and most difference found in posterior teeth at right quadrant in lower jaw (mean=2mm) but there is not clinically significant (0/08mm). More analysis and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICCS) between each pair of same handed and different handed examiners showed that there measurements were nearly the same and reproducible.

There was no significant clinically difference in measurement of PPD between right handed examiners and left handed examiners.